It’s funny… I’ve been at this blogging thing for so long that it’s just natural for me to monetize my blogs.
I recommend products and if someone likes the review and recommendation I provide – they might purchase the product through one of my links. That’s what Affiliate Marketing is!
I know that some readers have a problem seeing ads on websites… which is just what a blog is.
Why is it wrong to make money from blogs?
The Difference Between Sponsor Ads and Sponsored Contests?
Recently I’ve noticed that contests are getting a bit “over done”. This is my personal opinion and it’s mostly in the Mom Blog niches…
It’s fun to win contests… I’ve had a few on my blogs. Let me share a secret – it’s even more fun to give prizes!
But… when I see contest after contest – day after day… I think readers might suffer from “Contest Blindness”.
My mom was one of “those” contest entry ladies. Back in the day – it was a big deal to send in 5×7 index cards with your name and address printed on it… to get entered into a contest.
Mom and I would sit for hours stuffing envelopes, licking stamps and envelope glue and handing over piles of contest entries to the postman.
All this in hopes of winning a New Car or Washing Machine.
What we got were baseball hats, ink pens and stuffed toys with company logo’s.
Not once did I say to my mother – “Mom – lets buy some XYZ brand peanut butter because they are giving away a New Car”.
Remember – The contests were usually ‘No Purchase Necessary To Win’!
If an ad is presented as a contest on a blog… I don’t see any complaints from readers about the “Money Hungry Bloggers”.
What the Sponsor of the contest get’s is the “ad” for products “donated”.
What the reader sees it as a “freebie” for themselves.
But, if an advertiser sponsors an “ad ” instead of a prize it’s a problem for some readers. Funny how that works.
So while all blogger’s spend day after day, writing, researching and tweaking our blogs… some might think we should do it all for “no pay”.
What Do I Think About Making Money From Blogs?
I think it’s wonderful to make a living doing just what I love to do.
If readers don’t want to read my blogs because I have advertising… well… well… ummm… they can look for other blogs without ads.
Plus… I pay for advertising on other sites so you can find me and all the ideas I share.
It’s a big World Wide Web”… and their is room for all. 
BTW… if you “work” at this blogging thing long enough, and you use Google Adsense to monetize your blogs… Google will start sending you nice fat checks once a month.
Like “really, fat” checks. It’s fun and amazing.
I also suggest using Amazon Affiliate Links to all new marketers.
It’s so easy to find the perfect product to suggest within the article you are writing and it’s easy to pop in a picture or a text link as you start to make money from blogs.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Debra-
I totally agree…I am a little older than you but my mom smoked, and we collected ‘Raleigh cigarette’ coupons, with a wonderful catalog to buy from…The more my mom smoked, the better prizes we got! It was exciting…God rest her smoking soul!
Bob
Firstly, Bob, that made me giggle. Secondly, my Mum is constantly posting off to competitions from the magazines She purchases every week. Drives me nuts. I think She’d be quite a wealthy woman if She just saved the postage & mag money. For the amount She sends off, there is very little return but it’s enough to satisfy her. lol
Thirdly, yes it is a big World Wide Web. Each to his own, I say! As one who is learning from you Debra about Adsense, niche websites, Affiliate Marketing etc, I would have to agree whole heartedly with your post
Looking forward to those big, fat cheques.
Christine Holroyd´s last [type] ..Following My Passions